A complete application consists of:      

• An application
• Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional references

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, send an email to FDArpp@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

A research opportunity is available at the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS).

This opportunity is focused on allowing the participant to gain practical experience in statistical analyst in the Chemical Evaluation and Risk System (CERES).  The participant will be mentored by an FDA staff scientist who will train them to manipulate data using various types of files in the process of analyzing CERES data, and will explain how OFAS scientists use the information for toxicological safety reviews of food ingredients.  The participant will have the opportunity to utilize R for data science analytics quant research and/or Python, along with searching/retrieving data from ACCESS and Oracle databases using SQL programming language.  The project would be ideal for a post-baccalaureate candidate with broad knowledge of computer science, and chemistry and/or toxicology.  The project will also allow the participant to write code for data visualizations.  A basic understanding of statistics and code writing is desired.  Familiarity with toxicology testing and resulting data would also be helpful while analyzing CERES data, but is not necessary.  

CERES was created to serve as a food-additive knowledgebase and cheminformatics platform for OFAS scientists. CERES contains chemical, toxicological and regulatory information on food additives abstracted from the safety reviews of food and color additives, food contact materials, and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredients.  The CERES system has evolved to incorporate tools such as QSAR predictive models and will contain an updated Cramer classification decision-tree to improve the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) evaluation of chemical for use in the safety review of food ingredients.  

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and FDA. The initial appointment is for 12 months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at FDA in the Silver Spring, MD area. Participants do not become employees of FDA or the program administrator, and there are no fringe benefits paid.

The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) mandates a background check be completed for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.  Foreign nationals must have resided in the U.S. for at least three (3) of the past five (5) years in order for FDA to complete a background check.

Candidate must have a post-baccalaureate degree in Computer Science from a U.S. accredited institution within 5 years of the desired starting date, or expect to complete all degree requirements prior to the desired start date.  

• Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (4 )